The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has called out the Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo, governor Hope Uzodinma, over non-implementation of the 2025 Federal Government agreement in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, and the Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, respectively as being done in other state-owned varsities across the country.
They threatened to shut down the two affected varsities in protest if the governors failed to implement the agreement within 14-days.
The union noted that the agreement is focused on addressing critical issues such as salary deficits, infrastructure improvement, and employment concerns for university staff.
Recall that ASUU had reached an agreement with the Federal Government in December 2025, 16 years after the last agreement was signed in 2009.
The agreement, whose components include the upward review of emoluments of University Academics by 40% to enhance morale, improve service delivery and global competitiveness of Nigerian Tertiary Educational institutions, while reversing brain drain, takes effect from January 1, 2025.
Briefing the press at the ASUU-UNIZIK Secretariat in Awka on Monday, the ASUU-Owerri Zone emphasised that the governors’ non-compliance could jeopardise the peace and effective operation of academic activities in COOU and the Imo State University.
ASUU’s Owerri Zone Zonal Coordinator, Prof Dennis Aribodor, articulated the union’s frustration, alerting the public that the 2025 FG-ASUU agreement has been fully implemented in all the state-owned universities in Nigeria by their governors, except in the two states.
According to him, more than five months after the commencement of implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, it is regrettable that the agreement is yet to be implemented in the state-owned universities in ASUU Owerri zone, comprising Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, Anambra State, Federal University of Technology (FUTO) Owerri, Imo State, Michael Okpala University Umudike, Abia State and Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State.
“The two affected state universities in ASUU Owerri zone are Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) owned by the Anambra State Government and Imo State University (IMSU) owned by the Imo State Government.
“Our branches in both COOU and IMSU, in obedience to the directive of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU, have submitted the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement to their respective University Administrations since February 2026.
“This was done notwithstanding that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had earlier communicated the Agreement to the visitors of the state universities (the Anambra and Imo State Governors) and Vice Chancellors of the two universities for implementation.
“Despite demonstrations of good faith and engagement of university authorities, including the Governing Councils and University Administrations by our Union in COOU and IMSU, the implementation of the Agreement has not commenced in both universities. This is both bad and sad for the University system.
“While implementation has commenced in many state-owned universities including those owned by Bauchi, Benue, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun and Sokoto states, it is saddening that such has not happened in Anambra and Imo States.
“ASUU Owerri zone therefore calls on well-meaning citizens of Nigeria, especially the traditional and religious institutions, civil society organizations, parents, student groups as well as critical stakeholders in the university education system to prevail on the visitor to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (the Anambra State Governor) and the visitor to Imo State University (the Imo State Governor) to commence the implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement in order to uphold industrial harmony.
“Continued delay of the implementation serves no useful purpose and only aggravates industrial tension within the affected universities.
“ASUU Owerri zone cannot continue to watch while our members in State Universities are subjected to poor welfare conditions. Injury to one is injury to all! A stitch in time saves nine,” Aribodor warned.
